LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky’s first regional COVID-19 vaccination site went live Tuesday.

What You Need To Know

  • Kentucky's first regional mass vaccination site opened

  • More vaccine distribution should be available soon.

  • The regional site is at Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park

  • State launched website where you can determine vaccine eligibility and where to go.

 

It's taking place at Alltech Arena and it’s a joint partnership with Kroger Health to start vaccinating those 70 years old and older.

“The Horse Park appointments were filled in the first 90 minutes,” said Jim Gray. He’s the Transportation Cabinet Secretary and Director of the Vaccine Distribution.

Early Tuesday, people arrived to get their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“So a bit of advice. for those 70 and older, please keep trying. Please keep trying, have patience,” Gray said.

He explained the reasons that went into consideration in choosing a mass vaccination site.

“Population densities, health equity, the throughput, the amount, the volume of folks we could get through the site so that we get earlier to herd immunity and then drive times. Our goal is to have no one have to drive more than one county away to get a vaccine,” Gray said.

Lincoln County resident Paul French commuted almost an hour to get to the regional site. The veteran became the first patient to receive the vaccine at the horse park and the 74-year-old is one treatment away from finishing his chemo treatment.

Roughly, 600 other Kentuckians will receive their first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. 

“The last four weeks we have vaccinated more people than we’ve received doses from the federal government meaning our only limitation at this point is supply, supply, supply,” said Gov. Andy Beshear said.

Beshear said the state has vaccinated more than 362,000 Kentuckians.

There are still anywhere between 300,000- 350,000 Kentuckians who are 70 years old and older that still need the vaccine. 

“As vaccine quantities grow, as we receive more, 1C will be opened up which will include about 1.3 million additional Kentuckians,” Beshear said.

Beshear says each week the site is expected to vaccinate more than 3,000 people.

The governor also says he expects to be able to release vaccination data on race and ethnicity patterns next week.

The state also launched a new COVID-19 vaccine website called vaccine.ky.gov

People can determine if they are currently eligible for a vaccine and if so will be directed to a map that shows available vaccine sites across the state.